Five new faces in Spain squad for final two Nations League matches, Rodri and Olmo out injured

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente announced his squad on Friday for the final two group matches of the UEFA Nations League in the November window. He has called up five players who have never played international football, but several important stars are missing through injury.

World champions Spain have already confirmed their place in the Nations League quarter-finals. In the fight to hold on to top spot in the group, their opponents in the two upcoming matches are the Czech Republic and England.

Spain will face hosts the Czech Republic in Prague on 12 November. De la Fuente's team will then play England at home at the Metropolitano Stadium on 15 November.

The new faces in the squad are Álvaro Valles, Jacobo Ramón, Marc Roca, Pablo Barrios and Ander Barrenetxea. The material notes, however, that Barrios and Barrenetxea have previously played under this coach at club level.

Juan García and Pedro Porro have returned to the squad. The two World Cup-winning footballers could not play for the national team in September because of injury.

Compared with the September and October international breaks, the Spain coach has had to build this squad without several important players. Captain Rodri and Dani Olmo have not been called up because of injury; both are important players in de la Fuente's plans. Eric García is also absent this time, having been injured while playing for the national team at Wembley.

The goalkeepers in the squad are Unai Simón, David Raya, Juan García and Álvaro Valles. The defenders are Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Pubill, Dean Huijsen, Pedro Porro, Jacobo Ramón, Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo.

The midfielders called up are Fabián Ruiz, Pedri, Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi, Álex Baena, Fermín López, Pablo Barrios and Marc Roca. The forwards are Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Roberto Fernández, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino and Ander Barrenetxea.

De la Fuente also gave an emotional message in this squad announcement video. He remembered those killed in a recent train accident in Spain, as well as Tenerife footballer Jesús de Miguel, who died this week after a clash with an opposing goalkeeper on the field. The coach said such a thing should never have happened, Spain should not have to suffer like this, and they would pay the highest respect to those who died through the work they know best, on the field.